THE PATRIOT. July Meeting Info. In This Issue. IPMS Patriot Chapter Newsletter

Transcription

1 THE PATRIOT IPMS Patriot Chapter Newsletter Pip Moss, Editor July 2010 Billerica, MA Meeting Info The next Patriot Chapter meeting will take place on Friday, July 9 (the second Friday of the month, moved due to the Independence Day holiday weekend), at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Church in Billerica, MA. The church is located on Concord Road, just as it meets Route 3A (Boston Road) at the Billerica Town Common. The July meeting will be a build session with a business meeting, Show- and-tell, and a raffle. This is one BIG model! It s Tony D Anjou s impressive 1/72 scale XB-70 Valkyrie, built OOB from the old AMT/Ertl kit, and featuring another of Tony s lovely gloss paint jobs, this time with no less than three jars of Model Master enamel. The aluminum colored tires are not slips of the brush that s the way the real things looked. Tony adds, This kit was a putty queen, but it finished up okay. In This Issue June Meeting Minutes...2 Show and Tell List...2 Upcoming Events...2 Region 1 Update...2 Show and Tell Gallery...3 Question of the Month...5

2 Minutes from the July Meeting CHAPTER President Dave Schmidt called the meeting to order at 8:03. About 20 members were present. Dave reviewed the list of possible field trip sites and called for comments. After some discussion, a consensus developed that the first field trip should be to somewhere within a two-hour driving radius from our area. This would include the following: USS Salem in Quincy Museum of WWII in Natick USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild in Charlestown Battleship Cove in Fall River New England Air Museum In Windsor Locks, CT Quonset Point Air Museum Future trips to more distant locations could include Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, NY, the Intrepid Air Museum in NYC, the Owl s Head museum in Maine, and the Wright Museum in Wolfboro, NH. Dave said that he would research information on the two hour distance list and have the information for the next meeting. Dave reported on a message regarding IPMS/USA membership. Some chapters have been invited to participate in a program where signing up for IPMS membership is rewarded by a Trumpeter kit. Dave said the message he received was unclear if the offer was extended only to some chapters, and also if the offer extends to renewals. He said that he has contacted IPMS/USA for further information. Dave also reported on a request from IPMS/USA for cash donations to support the Make and Take program. The request went to all chapters and asked for a donation of whatever the chapter can afford. There was a motion that Patriot Chapter contribute $25. The motion was seconded and passed without dissent. Dave read a letter from the Mid-Hudson Valley (NY) IPMS chapter, requesting trophy pack purchases for their contest in October. The consensus was that money for trophy packs should be spent closer to home, and the issue died with no further action. Dave called for ideas of demonstrations at future meetings. Pip Moss said that he could do a demonstration on wiring radial engines, but it would have to wait until after his recovery from upcoming shoulder surgery. Several other members volunteered and suggested ideas for demonstrations. There was discussion about the July meeting, due to the proximity to the July 4th weekend. After the discussion, the club voted to move the July meeting to the 2nd Friday of the month (July 9). Pip noted that he may not be able to produce a newsletter during July, several members said that they could help work out a solution. This ended the business portion of the meeting. There was a brief break, followed by Show and Tell. After Show and Tell, there was a second break for raffle ticket sales. After the raffle, the meeting broke up for the night. Rick Lippincott, Secretary Show and Tell Tony D Anjou...1/72 XB-70 Valkyrie (AMT/Ertl) Mike Hirsch...1/48 Blohm & Voss Bv 40A (Czech Model) Bill Michaels...1/48 Komatsu G40 bulldozer (Tamiya) Pip Moss... 1/48 F6F-5 Hellcat (Eduard) Jim Qualey... 1/48 P-400 Airacobra (Monogram) Ben Vig...1/87 (HO) rotary snowplow (Athearn) Upcoming Events September 19...Rocon 31, IPMS Rochester, Radisson Inn, 175 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY. Contact James Elam: jelam54@yahoo.com or September AMPS East, IPMS Northeast Military Modelers, Danbury Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 18 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT. Contact John Gazzola: johng@ampseast.org or October 10...ModelFest 10, IPMS Igor Sikorsky, Knights of Columbus, 625 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford, CT. Contact J. L. Grant: jlg-design@juno.com or October 17...GraniteCon, IPMS Granite State, Nashua Elks Club, 120 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua, NH. Contact Rodney Currier: nickmatt2@roadrunner.com or October 23...HVHMG 2010, IPMS Mid Hudson, Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge, 29 Overocker Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY. Contact John Gallagher: ggallagherjoh@optonline.net or Page 2

3 Show and Tell Gallery Mike Hirsch s 1/48 scale Blohm und Voss Bv 40 attack glider, built OOB and painted with Mr. Color lacquers (RLM 81/82 over 76). Decals are from the kit. Weathering was confined to accentuating panel lines. Mike adds, Mixed resin/ PE cockpit parts and vacuform canopy first time for me! Bill Michaels 1/48 scale Komatsu G40 bulldozer, built OOB and painted with Polly Scale acrylics. The convincing weathering was accomplished with drybrushing only. The model replicates a generic IJN vehicle. Pip Moss s 1/48 scale F6F-5 Hellcat. The cockpit includes a color PE instrument panel from the Eduard Zoom set (the Weekend Edition kit doesn t include this item), and an Ultracast resin seat. Ultracast parts were also used for the propeller and the main wheels. The gun barrels are resin pieces from Quickboost. The model was painted with Model Master enamels, including the white geometric markings. Insignia and codes came from Aeromaster; the (excellent) stencils are from the kit sheet. The drop tank was dirtied up with a black wash; the exhaust stains were airbrushed. The final clear coat is Mr. Color Semi-Gloss with a small amount of Dark Gull Gray added for some weathering. Markings are for a plane aboard USS Yorktown early in Page 3

4 Show and Tell Gallery (continued) Jim Qualey s 1/48 scale P-400 (export version of the P-39) Airacobra, built almost OOB. Jim used instrument decals from ProModeler, punched out individually. Paint is Floquil Militar Colors (enamel) and Polly Scale (acrylic). Decals are from Aeromaster. The markings are for a plane based on Guadalcanal in Jim adds, Nice kit. First released in the 60s. Looks like a P-39 Junior modeler Bin Vig s HO scale rotary snowplow, built OOB. Ben used Delta Ceramcoat, Americana, a craft store paint. It was applied thick and repainted before dry to give the effect of many overpainted and worn layers. The markings (hand lettered) are for the BVRR, Ben s private railroad. Page 4

5 Question of the Month Summer Check-In: What models have you finished so far this year? What modeling projects are you working on, and how are they going? Memory being what it is, I can only go back a few months. That said, for completed models there s an Airix 1/72 Fairey Rotodyne, a Williams Bros. 1/72 C-46, an AMT 1/25 Chrysler 330 last month, and an MAT/Ertl 1/72 XB-70 this month. In the works are a P2V Neptune that is down to the engines, an AMT/Ertl Northrop XB-49 Flying Wing that is close to paint status, a Trumpeter (?) Corsair, and a few other odds and ends in various stages of construction. Tony D Anjou The only model I ve finished this year is the Lotus 7. I have been working on a Junkers D.I, but became discouraged with the progress and put it aside for now. I occasionally do a little work on a Ferrari Testa Rosa. Right now I am working on a Lockheed Vega, the version that Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic. Bob Hale I ve currently got several projects underway. My big project of the moment is the Wingnut Wings 1/32 Sopwith Pup. This is a great kit and it s coming along well. I did lose focus on it for a while I ordered some wire and tubing for use in rigging, so I focused on the little kits while I waited for it to arrive. But those are out of the way now, so I m back working on the Pup, at least part-time. Even though it is underway again, I still like to work on other projects as a break, especially when the rigging gets intense. So, right now, I m also building a HobbyScale 1/48 P-26 Peashooter going to use it with the new Starfighter Decals P-26 decals. I m also building the new Tamiya 1/35 British Matilda Infantry tank, a kit I started at the last meeting. Finally, on the back burner, waiting for the bench to clear, is my club group build ( cross-dresser ) subject. (I won t identify it now, in case I don t complete it by December!) Bill Michaels Finished this year? I m not sure I understand the question what is this word finished? OK, seriously I recently reconstructed a permanent modeling work area in the basement. I haven t had one in several years. As a result, I ve been able to make some slow but steady progress on a few projects. Work in progress actually includes some new stuff, but also works in progress from the last time I had a dedicated work area, which as I recall was circa WIP s include a trio of 1/144 F-5s for December s cross dresser theme. a 1/144 scale kit-bashed C-5M a C-130 that would qualify for cross dresser (that s all I m sayin for now) still working on the 1/32 Avia S-92 (from the old Revel kit) Last but not least, I keep eyeballing an old, battered T-34 that I built as a kid, but still (mostly) have. It s starting to resemble a blown-out ex-syrian tank I came across in my travels many years ago, and might make a fun experimental small display. Rick Lippincott This year, I ve finished a Trumpeter 1/32 scale F-100D Super Sabre. I had a real struggle with it, particularly the metal finish. I must confess that I was glad to be done with it. I m currently working on an Academy 1/32 scale F/A-18C Hornet. MUCH more enjoyable than the Super Sabre! I hope to have it done in time for the fall contests. John McCormick I ve had a productive 2010 so far: In six months, I ve already completed six models! Granted, they ve mostly been small projects four were 1/72 aircraft, a couple of which were Matchbox kits for the Group build on modelingmadness.com. I also finished a pair of 1/48 kits: an Eduard Nieuport 17 and last month s Japanese bulldozer. Page 5 I ve been riding (motorcycle), tracking down, and photographing Civil War monuments and memorials in NH, so building time has been decidedly brief (there are over 150, and I m down to the last thirty-odd). With the 150th anniversary here next year, I was amazed our state historical society didn t have a listing so it s up to me to create one. I m currently fiddling with several KV-1 tank models in 1/35 & 1/48 while watching the Whirled Cup matches, but no paint applied yet. I also have a couple of Fw 190 projects on the back burner. George Morrison So far this year I ve finished the following, all 1/48: a Hasegawa Ki-84 Hayate, a Trumpeter Westland Wyvern, a Tamiya AD-4 Skyraider, a Revell/Germany Bf 109E-4 trop, and an Eduard F6F-5 Hellcat. I m currently bouncing between three projects (guess what scale) on the front burner, although I m afraid none of them will be finished very soon due to my upcoming surgery. The farthest along is a Tamiya P-47M that I m doing in the dark blue/light blue/ natural metal scheme worn by the 63rd FS of the 56th FG. The paint and decals are finished, so it ll be on to the landing gear and final assembly when I can work again. The other two projects are pretty much assembled, but have not yet been painted: a Tamiya MiG-15 bis and an Eduard Fw 190A-5. I started the latter kit to see if it was truly as difficult as the internet chatter would have you believe. I found that it generally fits quite well, although some trimming is definitely required if, as I do, one wants to build it with gun panels closed. It s certainly a tricky build in some spots, but so far everything has worked for me except the engine mounts, which I found utterly hopeless and pretty much omitted. They re really not necessary anyway unless one wishes to display the engine cowling open, which I don t. Pip Moss (continued on Page 6)

6 Question of the Month (continued) I have finished the Amodel M-50 Bounder and the Trumpeter Tu-160 Blackjack strategic Soviet bombers and have started construction on the Trumpeter Tu-22M2 Backfire B Bomber, all in 1/72 scale. I hope to complete this project and then move on to the Trumpeter Tu-22M3 Backfire C before the end of summer. John Hanavan Slow year so far. I have finished one model, which was the 88 mm gun pit. I am currently working on two models: a Panzer 4 ausf C, and the Kfz. 61 German communications van. On the Panzer 4, the lower hull is almost complete, a few more tools to put on, and the turret needs to be painted and weathered. The Kfz. 61 is about half-way put together: the chassis and body have been attached, just need to attach some small parts to it, then start the painting and weathering. Mike O Keefe I haven t finished anything lately. Earlier this year, I finished the following: a pair of Hasegawa F-11F Tigers (a sharkmouth and a VT bird with fluorescent red-orange panels), an Esci F-100D (in Aircraft Gray), and a re-done Monogram P-40C in 12/7/41 Pearl Harbor markings. The models I m putting the most effort into right now are a Monogram Ju 87G (95% done), a Monogram Bf 109E (was going to do a quick build of an old kit until I decided to make a cockpit for it), and a Hobbycraft Bf 109D. Also doing a bit now and then on way too many others to list here. Jim Qualey Finished? That s the Holy Grail On the other hand, I am proceeding, ever so slowly and fitfully, on my Bf 109G-10 (Erlamanufacture), 1:32 scale, using the now-out-of-production, so-called Type 110 configuration produced by Cutting Edge. You may recall that this variant of the Bf 109G-10 utilizes a flat panel to transition from the bulged upper cowl panel on the port side, together with the smaller oil cooler, and no under-cowl bulges. I m using the Hasegawa Bf 109G-14 kit (which is what Erla basically did in real time); so far, I ve completed the cockpit using the Aires resin upgrade kit, and that worked out very nicely. A couple of points I thought I would mention: first, the Aires kit comes with an instrument panel cast in clear resin, which allows a fineness of detail better than photo etch, and a more realistic appearance when completed. It does require you to mask the individual instrument faces, but that was no big deal. I used my MicroMark punch set to create circular masks from Tamiya tape (regular masking tape will also do nicely), and the photo-negative instrument details appear very realistic when glued to the rear of the finished panel. The cockpit tub, consisting of floor/seat, cannon breech cover, and side panels was a bit of a challenge because of some slight warpage when completed, but nothing that couldn t be overcome. The photo-etch parts are tricky, especially when assembling the multi-part seat belts and shoulder harness. The trick is to leave the metal adjusting clasps and fasteners on the PE sheet while you thread the belts through and around them; do it the other way and those parts are too small to grasp, even with locking tweezers. The trim control wheels present a bit of a problem because they require you to punch out the center pivot points and insert a short axle that connects to the mounting bracket next to the seat. Aires instructions leave much to be desired, telling me absolutely nothing about where the lap belts connect to the seat pan, and how the trim wheels are supposed to line up with the bicycle chain drive train. For that I reverted to my Buffie s Best CD on the restored Bf 109G-10 (a must-have for 109 nuts, like me), which gave me all the information I needed. The rudder pedals are tricky, so be careful in assembling them. I painted the seat belts with white Floquil railroad lacquer, and then rubbed them down with a mixture of gray and brown pastel dust. They look just like the real thing. The final result was pretty good, considering that I accidentally dropped the whole thing on the floor, but no lasting damage, and nothing got lost. I did need to do considerable sanding and scraping to get a good fit inside the cockpit area, but that s par for the course. One other thing I tried was using Liquitex iridescent pearl acrylic paint as an interior wash on the seat tub and back, floor and cannon breech cover to suggest abrasion and wear, together with tic marks and wear-though using aluminum pencil. I recommend it. Well, that s it for now. Art Silen I just finished repairing an Estes Porta Pot Shot rocket. Three of the plastic outer stabilizer fins had cracked, so I showed Ben how to scratchbuild replacements made from sheet balsa. Ben just finished a balsa wood glider patterned after a Star Wars Y wing fighter. I bought this at the Spare Time Shop, and having looked it up on the internet, found it had been discontinued in I scanned the balsa sheets before allowing the kids to start cutting so that I can make a larger one out of foam core board some time in the future. I also got the small log cabin resin kit painted, but paint only jobs are always shorter tasks. I am still trying to find the Egyptian Tank kit that I won in the club raffle in February so that I can finish it before the cross dresser entries are due. If I can t find it, I ll finish up a dinosaur model that I assembled with my daughter. Harry Vig Made so far in 2010: Airfix Boeing 314 Pan Am clipper; Egg plane (Eggcentric of 1960s?); PBY Catalina (being converted to a gift box and Christmas tree ornament; complete refirb of a balsa 1950s Monogram Superkit F4U Corsair; 1/144 Grumman F3F biplane fighter of 1930s; Hawk Travel Air Mystery ship 1960s kit rebuild; very old Bandai Laird Solution. I have survived my first heart operation and hope to hear something tangible about #2 & 3, which I hope they ll do. If I don t make it, I would like my casket to be a big Superkit box with (naturally) a part left out. If anyone out there has even one part or wreck which I might procure to help in Monogram Wood-Plastic kits like Speedee bilts and Superkits, etc., please contact me ASAP (before it s too late, LOL). Bart Cusick wingsnut54@juno.com Page 6